Opposition turns violent inside Nepal parliament, on streets

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Opposition politicians threw chairs and attacked the parliamentary speaker during a violent general strike in Nepal on Tuesday that was aimed at blocking the government from pushing through a draft of a new constitution.

The strike called by the alliance of 30 opposition parties also shut down schools, transportation and shops. Supporters chanted anti-government slogans at rallies in the capital, Kathmandu, and a dozen vehicles were set on fire when their owners defied the strike call.

Police have detained about 50 protesters who were trying to enforce the strike.

An unidentified Nepalese politician from the opposition party lifts a chair to throw, during the Constituent Assembly meeting, in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015. Opposition parties staged general strike to shut down Nepal on Tuesday as opposition politicians threw chairs and attacked the parliamentary speaker in a bid to block the government from pushing through a draft of a new constitution. (AP Photo/Bikram Rai)

Both the ruling coalition and opposition said they would stick with their positions and there was no plan for a meeting to defuse the situation.

"We will bring the draft despite the protests. If they continue to block the assembly meeting we will find other alternatives but we will bring the draft," said Jhalnath Khanal, leader of the Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist Leninist), a ruling party.

Baburam Bhattarai of the United Communist Party of Nepal Maoist said the opposition parties would continue their protests and would not bow down to the ruling coalition.

The Constituent Assembly started a long-delayed meeting at 2 a.m. Tuesday, and the violence started when opposition members tried to stop Speaker Subash Nemwang from proposing the formation of a questionnaire committee, which precedes voting on the constitutional draft.

They threw chairs, kicked over desks and tossed microphones at the speaker. In the tussle, several security guards were injured but the Assembly members suffered only bruises.

A second meeting later on Tuesday afternoon was also disrupted by the opposition members who chanted slogans for one and half hours preventing Nemwang from speaking. Security was stepped up with three lines of security guards posted before the Speaker.

The ruling coalition — which has support of two-thirds of the members in the 605-member assembly — plans to push through the draft on Thursday. Opposition parties say any new constitution should be adopted only through consensus among all political parties.

The Himalayan nation has been attempting to draft a constitution since electing its first Constituent Assembly in 2008. The second assembly was elected in 2013 but disagreements among the political parties continue to hamper progress.

Nepalese Armed police force give cover to Chairman of the United Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) Pushpa Kamal Dahal, center, after clashes broke out between protesters and policemen during a general strike called by Opposition Alliance of 30 parties led by Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist and Unified Communist Party of Nepal (UCPN Maoist) in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015. Opposition politicians threw chairs and attacked the parliamentary speaker during a violent general strike in Nepal on Tuesday that was aimed at blocking the government from pushing through a draft of a new constitution. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Protesters clash with Nepalese policemen during a general strike called by Opposition Alliance of 30 parties led by Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist and Unified Communist Party of Nepal (UCPN Maoist) in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015. Opposition politicians threw chairs and attacked the parliamentary speaker during a violent general strike in Nepal on Tuesday that was aimed at blocking the government from pushing through a draft of a new constitution. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Lawmakers shout slogans against the government during a general strike called by Opposition Alliance of 30 parties led by Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist and Unified Communist Party of Nepal (UCPN Maoist) in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015. Opposition politicians threw chairs and attacked the parliamentary speaker during a violent general strike in Nepal on Tuesday that was aimed at blocking the government from pushing through a draft of a new constitution. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Nepalese protesters stop a tourist vehicle during a general strike called by alliance of 30 party led by Communist Party of Nepal (CPN-Maoist) in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Jan 20, 2015.. Opposition parties staged general strike to shut down Nepal on Tuesday as opposition politicians threw chairs and attacked the parliamentary speaker in a bid to block the government from pushing through a draft of a new constitution. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Nepalese Armed Police force stand guard near the Constitution Assemble during the general strike called by alliance of 30 party led by Communist Party of Nepal (CPN-Maoist) in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Jan 20, 2015. Opposition parties staged general strike to shut down Nepal on Tuesday as opposition politicians threw chairs and attacked the parliamentary speaker in a bid to block the government from pushing through a draft of a new constitution. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Nepalese protesters shout slogans against the government during the general strike called by alliance of 30 party led by Communist Party of Nepal (CPN-Maoist) in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Jan 20, 2015. Opposition parties staged general strike to shut down Nepal on Tuesday as opposition politicians threw chairs and attacked the parliamentary speaker in a bid to block the government from pushing through a draft of a new constitution. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

A motorcycle burns after Nepalese demonstrators torched during the general strike called by alliance of 30 party led by Communist Party of Nepal (CPN-Maoist) in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Jan 20, 2015. Opposition parties staged general strike to shut down Nepal on Tuesday as opposition politicians threw chairs and attacked the parliamentary speaker in a bid to block the government from pushing through a draft of a new constitution. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Protesters stand on a bridge with a party flag during during a general strike called by Opposition Alliance of 30 parties led by Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist and Unified Communist Party of Nepal (UCPN Maoist) in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Jan 20, 2015. Opposition politicians threw chairs and attacked the parliamentary speaker during a violent general strike in Nepal on Tuesday that was aimed at blocking the government from pushing through a draft of a new constitution. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)